Time and a word or two

Posted on 23 March 2024 by pws

The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as its time system. The whole country uses the same system.

We are one hour behind Paris and five hours ahead of New York.

It’s worth taking a trip to Greenwich by train, bus or DLR, to see the observatory and the meridian and the beautiful parks and buildings. Note that there are big hills to climb and it’s often very busy.

At the end of March the clocks go forward one hour and we use British Summer Time (BST). We are synchronised with Europe but not with the USA, which can go onto daylight saving some weeks earlier.

At the height of the summer it is daylight by 5am and more-or-less still light at 10pm, so you can come out of the theatre and it is still daytime.

Clocks go backwards at the end of October. Again, the USA is different. In the depts of winter it is still dark after 7am and dark again by 4pm.

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Money matters IV

Posted on 22 March 2024 by pws

Here in the UK, if you buy something, it may be subject to a fixed, country-wide sales tax called Value Added Tax (VAT). It’s 20%. Some items don’t have a tax and are exempt or zero rated, but for most things it’s 20%.

We have been to North America and we know the procedure. You go into a shop, find what you want at $50, take it to the sales desk and blow me, they add another 8.26% to the price and it’s more than you thought. But you knew they were going to do that, and you had to stand there looking embarrassed waiting to find out what you’re actually going to pay. You’d need a calculator to work it out, as does the assistant, and it’s never a nice surprise.

And in the next state it’s 11.26%.

So in London you go to Selfridges and find a nice tie for £50, and VAT is 20%, so you dig out your calculator to find what you’re going to pay, or just leave it to the staff. Right?

WRONG.

Here in the UK, and in most of the civilised world, the price on the item is the price you pay. No calculations required, no uncertainty, it’s the price. Your till receipt may show a tax breakdown, but who cares.

It is s simple and easy, and we don’t get why so many people find it hard or complain (Americans, we are thinking of you. It doesn’t matter how much the tax was and how much the base cost of the thing is, the cost of it is what you pay. It’s not complicated. Why would you want it complicated?).

Whether there’s a price ticket, even in a sale, or a barcode you can scan, or a label on the shelf, that’s the price. End.

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Money matters III

Posted on 21 March 2024 by pws

Cash or card?

Despite what people say, most places accept cash and most places accept card. They may prefer card as it’s easier for them. You also have a record of what you spend.

Using a card in a foreign country will incur a cost for you. Our bank once told us that they were associated with a well-known bank in the States and using a cash machine (ATM) at one of those branches would be an easier and cheaper experience. And it is. Check with your bank to see if they have a similar affiliation.

Contactless is very common. If you intend to use contactless, make sure it’s activated before you leave home.

Some places add a fee for a credit card transaction, while debit cards may be cheaper. The fee is usually several percent of the sale.

You should not need to give someone your card, and they should never take it out of your sight. If they do, you could be a victim of fraud.

Be careful with your card.

Foreign exchange

It’s always worth having some cash, for emergencies and smaller payments (and non-card places). Look around at home for the best rates. In London, there are exchange booths and shops all around. Generally, good rates means extra fees. Some of the larger stores (eg John Lewis) and post offices (if you can find one) do good rates. Banks (if you can find one) don’t tend to do walk in foreign exchange any more.

Some stores accept payment in cash in foreign currencies (USD and EUR). Exchange rates will not be favourable for you.

ATMs

There are ATMs outside stores and in other random places, like railway stations. They are often not run by banks, but are private. You should not be charged a fee for using the machine, though, of course, exchange rates come in again.

Many of these machines look dodgy or vandalised. They may be fine, but we are cautious. Beware of people hanging around or looking over your shoulder.

Someone in the security department of our bank once gave good advice: don’t use machines outside shops (there’s a big risk of card being cloned or just taken), use a machine outside a bank, or inside a bank branch is even better.

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